Thanksgiving 2012

And away we went. Six in a minivan, packed superbly by Daddy and filled with expectation on our adventure. No one in OH or MI had met IV and MI folks had last seen Caroline at nearly 3 months and OH folks had a two year gap as we missed the Thanksgiving trip last year. So...off we went from Saturday to Saturday to see what we could see. Kids were excited about the indoor pool at the OH hotel. And loved the play structures (one looked suspiciously like a John Deere-inspired one) near Grandpa Will and Grandma Gwen. We had a great time with the at church and afterwards for lunch and hanging out. And spending most of the day at the Air Force Museum was a hit on Monday. It helped we rewarded ourselves with Mimi's for dinner and ice cream at Cold Stone. Felt a bit like Christmas with all the lights and large tree at the outdoor mall. The kids ran around it. Josiah and Caroline in particular got really close to the large central tree and gazed up so high at the magnificence of it.

A 'short' ride north with fun stops and playing before four nights at Aunt Connie and Uncle Bob's. We so enjoyed being around them and playing with their gobs of toys (they run a day care *well*), and visiting Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Reed. The kids especially liked visiting with their Getter cousins every day! Game night and dinner provided ample opportunity to plat at the Getter house. Thanksgiving was full of the whole gang (nearly 30!). Friday we were off to Meijer Gardens to view the trees decorated from around the world, and also enjoyed some art, the catcus and tropical rainforest rooms, and the trains! Wow! More playing at the Blain's house before leaving somewhat early Saturday (after pancakes!). Too short a visit but a long 13.5 hours door to door. We maybe will go back in the summer when we can visit Lake Michigan's beach and perhaps catch a wedding. ;-)

We couldn't ask for better weather, though. Warm enough in both states to play outside in the sun without a jacket. Until...Friday when the temp dropped 20-30 degrees and snow blew and no one wanted to play in the sand pile. But the kids got everything they wanted short of riding a sled down a snowy hill. And we enjoyed visiting so many relatives, too. And we'd love to host them (hint...hint...).